A contemporary riff on the classic, Urban Nut from artistic director Kate Hutter and her L.A. Contemporary Dance Company injects the traditional Nutcracker story with modern-day elements, including a colorful cast of L.A. characters and an au courant soundtrack. At each performance, an audience member is chosen to participate as Clara or Clarence, who falls asleep at a performance of The Nutcracker, only to be drawn into a dream. (Only audience members who submit their name on arrival will be recruited, so the shy need not worry.) At the Brockus Project Space at The Brewery, 618B Moulton Ave., Lincoln Heights; Thurs.-Fri., Dec. 11-12, 8 p.m., Sat., Dec. 13, 8 p.m. & 10 p.m., Sun., Dec. 14, 7 p.m.; $10. urbannut.brownpapertickets.com.

2. Piñatas, anyone?

SoCal’s oldest professional folkloric ensemble, Danza Floricanto/USA, returns with its seasonal Navidad en Whittier celebrating the passing of culture and tradition from grandparents to the young through dance and music. The program draws from five different regions of Mexico, which vary from year to year, but always concludes with the traditional singing of Posadas and, of course, a piñata. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts,Whittier College, 13406 Philadelphia St., Whittier; Sat., Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.; $20, $15 children. 562-907-4203, shannoncenter.org.

1. The Oscars go Nutcracker

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Amid the dozens of Nutcrackers popping up in December, Los Angles Ballet’s is the most polished and professional. LAB makes a big move this week, adding Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards, to its existing home theaters in Glendale, Northridge, Redondo Beach and UCLA. LAB’s Nutcracker is set in 1912 Los Angeles, and this latest expansion continues LAB artistic directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary’s commitment to bring great ballet to greater Los Angeles. The dancing talent has deepened as LAB continues to prove itself to be the top-drawer professional resident ballet company that has eluded this city until now. In full disclosure, your scribe volunteers in a chimney onstage. Info on all venues and tickets at losangelesballet.org or 310- 998-7782. At the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood & Highland, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hllywd.; Sat.-Sun, Dec. 13-14, 1& 5 p.m.; $31-$99, $24.50-$79 seniors, students & children 12 & under. 323-308-6300, dolbytheatre.com.

Ann Haskins has written about dance for L.A. Weekly since shortly after it began publishing. She also has written about dance and theater for magazines and newspapers. She has received two Horton Awards from the Los Angeles Dance Resource Center for her coverage of dance in Los Angeles.